Daniel 11:32
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. | With flattery he will corrupt those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. | And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he pervert by flatteries; but the people that know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedAfter the king of the north pollutes the sanctuary and sets up the abomination that makes desolate (11:31), this verse names two responses. Those who already break the covenant he wins over with smooth flattery; those who know their God stand firm and act. The next verses show this strength costs them: they teach many, yet fall by sword, flame, and captivity (11:33-35). Daniel 11:31Daniel 11:32Daniel 11:33Daniel 11:34Daniel 11:35
Commonly taken out of context
How it’s often usedQuoted as a promise that people who know God will gain power, success, and do great, impressive deeds.
In contextThe strength here is firmness against a persecuting king's flattery, and the action includes teaching others. The same faithful people 'shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil' (11:33), to be tried and purified (11:35). Daniel 11:32Daniel 11:33Daniel 11:35Strong's H2388K
SpeakingThe one speaking to Daniel in the vision of chapters 10-11. He says he stood to strengthen Darius the Mede and now shows Daniel 'the truth.' Daniel 11:1Daniel 11:2Daniel overview
ToDaniel, who is told what will happen to 'thy people.' The book is written for God's people in exile and after it. Daniel 11:14Daniel overview
Also involvedThe 'vile person' who gains power by flatteries (11:21), who stands in the place of the king of the north. Also two groups among God's people: those who forsake the holy covenant (11:30) and those who know their God. Daniel 11:21Daniel 11:30Daniel 11:32Daniel 11:15
The king uses smooth words and fine promises to draw covenant-breakers further into wickedness. Against him, the people who know God are firm and resolute, and they act. Verse 33 shows part of that action: the wise instruct many, even while they suffer. Daniel 11:32Strong's H2514Strong's H2388KStrong's H6213ADaniel 11:33
The verse follows the polluting of 'the sanctuary of strength,' the place of the daily sacrifice (11:31). The sources here do not say where Daniel received this vision; he served in Babylon, and one earlier vision placed him at Shushan by the river Ulai. Daniel 11:31Daniel overview
The eventsIn the vision, this follows the defiling of the sanctuary and the removal of the daily sacrifice (11:31). The suffering lasts 'many days' and runs 'even to the time of the end,' for 'a time appointed' (11:33, 11:35). Daniel 11:31Daniel 11:33Daniel 11:35
WrittenTraditional view: Daniel wrote in the 500s BC, and the vision comes in the third year of Cyrus, about 536 BC. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date the final form to about 167-164 BC under Antiochus IV, because chapter 11 describes those years in detail. Daniel overview
HereTo warn God's people ahead of time that a flattering ruler would set himself against the holy covenant. It also prepares them to stay faithful rather than be won over. Daniel 11:28Daniel 11:30Daniel 11:32Daniel overview
In the whole of ScriptureDaniel shows that the Most High rules over kings and that faithfulness under foreign rulers may cost one's life. Even here the persecution has limits: 'it is yet for a time appointed' (11:35), and what is determined shall be done (11:36). Daniel overviewDaniel 11:35Daniel 11:36
For readersKnowing God, trusting and serving him, is what keeps a person firm when pressure and flattery come. Psalm 9:10 says those who know God's name will trust him, and 2 Timothy 2:1-3 calls believers to be strong in grace and endure hardness. Psalms 9:101 Chronicles 28:92 Timothy 2:12 Timothy 2:3
Christians read this differently
The chapter does not name this king of the north; it only places him in the line of kings that follows the breakup of the kingdom of Grecia (11:2-4). Some read verses 21-35 as fulfilled in a past king of that line. Others hold that the vision also reaches forward to 'the time of the end' (11:35, 11:40). Daniel 11:2Daniel 11:3Daniel 11:4Daniel 11:21Daniel 11:35Daniel 11:40
- flatteriesחֲלַקָּה
The word means flattery, smoothness, or fine promises. The same king obtains the kingdom by flatteries (11:21) and here corrupts covenant-breakers by them. Flattery appears again in 11:34, where many cleave to the faithful with flatteries. Strong's H2514Daniel 11:21Daniel 11:32Daniel 11:34
- do wickedlyרָשַׁע
It means to act wickedly or be guilty. These are the covenant-breakers already named as 'them that forsake the holy covenant' (11:30), so flattery pulls in people who have already turned away. Strong's H7561Daniel 11:30
- knowיָדַע
Its meanings include knowing by experience and acknowledging. Other Scripture ties knowing God to serving him with a whole heart and trusting him (1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 9:10). Strong's H30451 Chronicles 28:9Psalms 9:10
- be strongחָזַק
Its meanings include be firm, be courageous, be resolute, and prevail. That fits standing firm against the king's pressure, as God promises in Zechariah 10:12: 'I will strengthen them in the LORD.' Strong's H2388KZechariah 10:12
- do exploitsעָשָׂה
The lexicon glosses the word here as 'and they will act.' It is the common verb to do, work, or act with effect. Verse 33 shows part of that action: the wise instruct many. Strong's H6213ADaniel 11:33
Takeaway
When a powerful enemy uses flattery to pull people from God, those who truly know God stand firm and keep acting faithfully, even when it costs them dearly. Their suffering is limited to God's appointed time. Daniel 11:32Daniel 11:33Daniel 11:35Psalms 9:10
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
The world around the text
About 605-536 BC. King of Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC). Where Daniel lived and served for about seventy years. The capital of the Babylonian empire, on the Euphrates south of modern Baghdad, in the land the Bible calls Shinar and Chaldea.
Who ruled
- King of BabylonNebuchadnezzar605-562 BC
The king who besieged Jerusalem, carried Daniel and the temple vessels to Babylon, and later destroyed the city and temple. His own building inscriptions boast of the Babylon he built. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 24:12 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 25:1Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- Last king of Babylon, and his son who ruled in his placeNabonidus and Belshazzar556-539 BC
Nabonidus spent about ten years at the oasis of Tema in Arabia and left his son Belshazzar to rule in Babylon. That is why Belshazzar could only offer Daniel the place of "third ruler in the kingdom": he was himself second. Daniel 5:1Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:29Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Verse Account of Nabonidus
- Received the kingdom after Babylon fellDarius the MedianFrom 539 BC
Daniel says he "took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old" and set 120 princes over it. Records outside the Bible do not name him; he has been identified with Gubaru, the governor Cyrus set over Babylon, or with Cyrus himself. Daniel 5:31Daniel 6:1Daniel 9:1Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)
- King of PersiaCyrus559-530 BC
He united the Medes and Persians, took Babylon in 539 BC, and let the exiles go home to rebuild the temple, as Isaiah had named him beforehand. Daniel 1:21Daniel 6:28Daniel 10:1Ezra 1:1-4Isaiah 44:28-45:1Cyrus Cylinder
- King of JudahJehoiakim609-598 BC
Judah's king when Daniel was taken. Jeremiah warned him and his people that the land would serve Babylon seventy years. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 23:36-24:6Jeremiah 25:1-11
What was happening, 612 BC to 167 BC
- 612 BCWarNineveh falls
Babylon and the Medes destroyed Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as Nahum and Zephaniah had foretold. Babylon became the great power of the region. Nahum 3:7Zephaniah 2:13Fall of Nineveh Chronicle (ABC 3)
- 605 BCWarBattle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at Carchemish on the Euphrates, in Jehoiakim's fourth year. The same year he came against Jerusalem and took the first captives, Daniel among them. Jeremiah 46:2Daniel 1:1-4Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 597 BCWarJerusalem surrenders
Nebuchadnezzar took King Jehoiachin, his nobles and craftsmen to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel went into exile with them. 2 Kings 24:10-17Ezekiel 1:2Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 586 BCWarJerusalem and the temple destroyed
Babylon's army burned the temple and the city and broke down its walls. Daniel later prays over "the desolations of Jerusalem" and asks God to shine on his "sanctuary that is desolate." 2 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 52:12-14Daniel 9:2Daniel 9:17
- c. 575 BCBuildingBabylon rebuilt in splendor
Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon with great walls, palaces and the blue-glazed Ishtar Gate, and his inscriptions praise his own work. Compare his boast: "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?" Daniel 4:30Nebuchadnezzar's East India House InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 1.178-183
- 562 BCRulersNebuchadnezzar dies
His son Evil-merodach became king and released Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 2 Kings 25:27-30Jeremiah 52:31-34
- c. 553-543 BCRulersNabonidus leaves Babylon to Belshazzar
King Nabonidus stayed at Tema in Arabia for about ten years, and the yearly New Year festival in Babylon was not held. Belshazzar governed in Babylon. Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Daniel 5:1Daniel 7:1
- 550 BCWarCyrus unites the Medes and Persians
Cyrus of Persia defeated Astyages king of the Medes, joining the two peoples in one kingdom. Daniel's vision names the ram's two horns as "the kings of Media and Persia," the higher coming up last. Daniel 8:3Daniel 8:20Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.127-130
- October 539 BCWarBabylon falls to Cyrus
Cyrus's army entered Babylon without a long siege. Herodotus says the people were feasting when the city was taken. Daniel records that "in that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain." Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.191Cyrus Cylinder
- 538 BCGod's peopleCyrus lets the exiles return
In his first year over Babylon, Cyrus proclaimed that the Jews could go back and build the LORD's house in Jerusalem. Daniel "continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus." Ezra 1:1-42 Chronicles 36:22-23Daniel 1:21Cyrus Cylinder
- c. 536 BCGod's peopleThe temple's foundation is laid
The returned exiles rebuilt the altar and laid the foundation of the temple. In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel was still in the east, mourning and praying. Ezra 3:1-11Daniel 10:1-3
- 334-331 BCWarAlexander the Great conquers Persia
Alexander of Macedon crossed into Asia and overthrew the Persian empire within four years. Daniel 8:21 names the rough goat as "the king of Grecia" and its great horn as "the first king." Daniel 8:5-8Daniel 8:21Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 1-3
- 323-301 BCWarAlexander's empire is divided
Alexander died young, and after twenty years of war his generals divided his empire, chiefly into four kingdoms. Daniel 8:22 says "four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." Daniel 8:8Daniel 8:22Daniel 11:4Diodorus Siculus, Library 18-20Plutarch, Demetrius 28-30
- 167 BCWarAntiochus IV defiles the temple
The Greek king Antiochus IV banned Jewish worship and set up a pagan altar on the altar of burnt offering. 1 Maccabees calls it "the abomination of desolation." Two centuries later Jesus spoke of "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" as still to come. 1 Maccabees 1:54-59Josephus, Antiquities 12.5.4Matthew 24:15
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records of these years (the Babylonian Chronicles, the Cyrus Cylinder, Nebuchadnezzar's inscriptions) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Diodorus, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and [those who] act wickedly of | וּמַרְשִׁיעֵ֣י | u-mar-shi-'EI | H7561 | be wickedרָשַׁע (ra.sah) 1) to be wicked, act wickedly 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be wicked, act wickedly 1a2) to be guilty, be condemned 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to condemn as guilty (in civil relations) 1b2) to condemn as guilty (in ethical or religious relations) 1b3) to act wickedly (in ethics and religion) |
| [the] covenant | בְרִ֔ית | ve-RIT | H1285 | covenantבְּרִית (be.rit) 1) covenant, alliance, pledge 1a) between men 1a1) treaty, alliance, league (man to man) 1a2) constitution, ordinance (monarch to subjects) 1a3) agreement, pledge (man to man) 1a4) alliance (of friendship) 1a5) alliance (of marriage) 1b) between God and man 1b1) alliance (of friendship) 1b2) covenant (divine ordinance with signs or pledges) 2) (phrases) 2a) covenant making 2b) covenant keeping 2c) covenant violation |
| he will pollute | יַחֲנִ֖יף | ya-cha-NIF | H2610 | to polluteחָנֵף (cha.neph) 1) to be profaned, be defiled, be polluted, be corrupt 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be polluted 1a2) to be profane, be godless 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to pollute 1b2) to make profane, make godless, cause to be defiled |
| with flattering [words] | בַּחֲלַקּ֑וֹת | ba-cha-la-KOT | H2514 | flatteryחֲלַקָּה (cha.laq.qah) flattery, smoothness, fine promises |
| and a people | וְעַ֛ם | ve-'AM | H5971A | peopleעַם (am) : people/nation 1) nation, people 1a) people, nation 1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men |
| [which] knows | יֹדְעֵ֥י | yo-de-'EI | H3045 | to knowיָדַע (ya.da) 1) to know 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to know 1a1a) to know, learn to know 1a1b) to perceive 1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern 1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish 1a1e) to know by experience 1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess 1a1g) to consider 1a2) to know, be acquainted with 1a3) to know (a person carnally) 1a4) to know how, be skilful in 1a5) to have knowledge, be wise 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed 1b2) to make oneself known 1b3) to be perceived 1b4) to be instructed 1c) (Piel) to cause to know 1d) (Poal) to cause to know 1e) (Pual) … |
| of God its | אֱלֹהָ֖יו | 'e-lo-HAV | H0430G | Godאֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
| they will display strength | יַחֲזִ֥קוּ | ya-cha-ZI-ku | H2388K | to strengthen: strengthenחָזַק (cha.zaq) : strengthen/support/encourage 1) to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be strong, grow strong 1a1a) to prevail, prevail upon 1a1b) to be firm, be caught fast, be secure 1a1c) to press, be urgent 1a1d) to grow stout, grow rigid, grow hard (bad sense) 1a1e) to be severe, be grievous 1a2) to strengthen 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to make strong 1b2) to restore to strength, give strength 1b3) to strengthen, sustain, encourage 1b4) to make strong, make bold, encourage 1b5) to make firm 1b6) to make rigid, make hard … |
| and they will act | וְעָשֽׂוּ׃ | ve-'a-SU | H6213A | to make: doעָשָׂה (a.sah) : do/perform 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.